Check out January’s featured resources – Martin Luther King, Winter, and other seasonal content.

Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Sentences

Grade(s): K, 1, 2

Subject(s): ELA, Social Studies

In this activity, the students will be introduced to Martin Luther King, Jr. and his accomplishments. The students will be introduced to unfairness while engaging in a whole class activity where they are segregated based on differences. Next, they will listen to a story about the life of MLK Jr. The students will discuss what they learned about MLK Jr. after listening to the story and they will create sentences about him. They will also listen to a song about MLK Jr. They will practice creating more interesting and detailed sentences about Dr. King. The students will then brainstorm different dreams they have had and how they can make the world a better place. Finally, they will practice writing and editing a sentence about their dream.

I Have A Dream

Grade(s): 3, 4, 5

Subject(s): ELA, Social Studies

In this activity, students will learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and his contributions. He was a very influential man who helped shape the course of American History. This activity is great for Martin Luther King Jr. day or anytime throughout the year. Students will have a chance to learn about this famous man, hear his unforgettable speech “I Have A Dream”, and create their own I Have A Dream speech on something that they are passionate about changing in the world.

American Heroes: Martin Luther King

Grade(s): 3, 4, 5

Subject(s): ELA, Social Studies

In this project, students learn who Martin Luther King Jr. was and demonstrate understanding of how his life made a difference in the lives of others.

Students read Martin’s Big Words (or another book of your choosing) and then carry out independent or partner research to learn more. They then decide on and create a product that they think would best teach others about his life and impact.

Balanced Biographies

Grade(s): 5, 6, 7

Subject(s): ELA, Social Studies

In this project, students learn about writing biographies through this scaffolded sequence of activities. The topic covered in the resources and notes here is the civil rights movement (Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks), but the structure could be applied to another topic such as presidents or world leaders.

By the end of the project, students each write a thorough and well researched biography after working through the stages of planning, researching and writing biographies. They also gain experience through reading and annotating existing biographies and autobiographies, watching videos and learning about the civil rights movement, or whichever topic you have chosen to align with you class biographies.

Elite Hockey

Grade(s): 9, 10

Subject(s): ELA

In Elite Hockey, students use their favorite hockey team to practice argument reading and writing in a real world context. As general managers of the team, they have to recommend one player for the MVP Award. They read other recommendation style texts around hockey and read about what makes an effective leader. They then analyze statistics of the players to write arguments, counter-arguments, and present their arguments to the team coach, before writing their final recommendation letter. The task ends with the opportunity to develop argument writing in several ways.

Angry Penguins

Grade(s): 10, 11, 12

Subject(s): Math

In American culture, people have an affinity for launching birds, pheasants, and other sorts of fowl at oblivious targets with a slingshot. From where does this fascination come? Nobody knows.

Nonetheless, it makes for an interesting quadratic function application. Are you ready to help out costumed penguins extract centuries of revenge against those slap-happy menacing predators –- the seals? Of course, you are.

Piecewise functions are often one of the more conceptually challenging skills for students. Through this manipulative and engaging activity, students will have a much stronger understanding of this concept.

In Parabolic Destruction, students begin to practice using quadratic equations and maneuvering the quadratic cut-outs. In piecewise Power-Ups, students are introduced to different functions and must construct piecewise functions to POOF seals. In Angry Penguins, students will use the parent functions to determine the piecewise functions that go through specific points. There are five levels in all. Finally, in Build Your Own Angry Penguins Level, students will choose their penguins (functions) and plan their attack!

Be sure to check out all of our K-12 New Year’s content here.

Be sure to check out all of our K-12 Winter content here.